Table top and supporting frame



1 M. GREENWAY 2,532,902

TABLE ToP AND SUPPORTING FRAME Dvec. 5, 1950 Filed 001;. 27, 1947 /0 mi /Z INVENTOR. fw/5 f7. @WEE/wwf Dea.. 5, 1950 l.. M. GREENWAY TABLE TOP AND SUPPORTING FRAME 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 2'7, 1947 IN VEN TOR. i fw/s fr. @www/v7 Dec. 5, 1950 L. M. GREENWAY TABLE TOP AND SUPPORTING FRAME 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 27, 1947 atented Dec. 5, 1950 UNITED STATES ATENT 'OFFICE 12,532,902 r'IV'li N SUPO'G FRAME Lewis Greenway, "Lansdowne, Pa. Application l'October-2.7, 1947, Serial No. '782,313

1 Claim. 1.

` This invention relates to a table and it is 'one lobject of the invention to provide a `table having a top and supporting legs, the legs being "so mounted that they may 4be moved froin a folded ,position under the top to a depending position for use and securely, but re'leasabiy, held inthe depending position. M

Another object of the invention is to `provide a table wherein the legs are .pivotaliy mounted and areheld in a depending position for use vby sleeves Yslidalole along the legs and so formed 'that they may be easily .grasped and moved to a lraised posireieasa'b'iy held in the adjusted tion for use and position.

Another object of the invention is vto provide a table having its top provided with a depending slgirt which will serve as a lshield vfor the legs when the 'legs are moved to a folded position yclose against the under face of lthe table top where they will be out of the 'way and not be liable v'to towards an extended position when the table is set against a wall or `lifted 'from its position against the wall for use. y l

Another object of the invention is to 'provide a table having a top provided with a .panel which is set iri't'o a fra'fne where it is r'mly held -and prevented 'from slipping out of the freine.

Another 'object 'of the 'invention is to provide a table top so fr'rne'd that an auxiliary top inayi be appli'ed to it and 'thus 'increase the norma-1 'size of the table, A'the auxiliary top having "about its y'I'i'argi'rial edge depressions constituting pockets to receive glasses and the like.

Another object of the invention is `to provide a table which 'is of simple construction, very strong, `Aand capable of -being manufaetured at Ylow zes-t.

4The invention is illustrated in the 'accompany- 'ing drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a top plan View of a table of the improved construction.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken through the table along the line2--2fof Figure `l.

Fig. 3 is a view similar lto Figure 2 showing the Ilegs in a folded position close against the table top.

Fig. 4k is a fragmentary view showing a leg in perspective and a portion of the top in sectional perspective. I

Fig. 5 is a sectional view vupon an enlarged 'scale 'taken along the line 5 5 of Figure 1.

I Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken transversely through "a liable 'leg along the line l-i6 /f Figure 2.

Fig. '7 is asectional yiew taken'vrtica'lly alon'g Fig. 8 is a top plan view or a table having 'a modified construction.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view 'taken along the line 9 9 of Figure 8.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line Iil-l il of Figure 8.

Fig. 11 'i`s a fragmentary sectional View taken along vthe line I l-l l of Figure 8.

Fig. v1'2 is a perspective view showing a corner .portion of a table having another modified construction.

Fig. 1 3 is a perspective view showing the Vleg of Figure 12 folded.

Fig. 14 is a View showing the table leg of Figure `12 with its sleeve in a lowered position.

Fig. 15 is a view taken at right angles to Figure 14.

Fig. 16 is a top plan view of another imodied form of table.

Fig. 17 is a front view showing the table of Figure 16 partially in elevation and partially Vin section;

Fig. 1'8 is a side view showing another mourned form of table with its legs folded.

The table illustrated in Figures 1 through 7 has a top consisting of a frat-ne `I lformed of metal, or other suitable material and bent to provide sunken ledges or anges 2 extending 'along inner margins of the side portions o'f the frame and a skirt 3 along outer marginal edges of vthe frame. The ange and the apron 3 also form walls of a channel formed under the frame along sides thereof, and in this channel are Vmounted 'blocks which serve to reinforce corners of the frame and also serve as carriers for posts 5 which extend downwardly therefrom but are of less length than 'the depth of the skirt'so that the hinge ears 6 of these posts will be spaced upwardly from 'the lower edge of vthe skirt and not project outwardly therefrom. The posts are circular in cross section, and Vto their ears are pivoted 'ears l Aat upper ends of legs 8.

`Ihelegs are formed of metal tubes and formed in pairs, each pair being connected at ltheir lower ends by a cross bar 9 which braces the legs and provides an elongated base for resting upon a floor or the ground when the table is in use. The cross bars also provide hand holds which may be readily grasped and the legs `easily swung to -'a folded position or an extended position for use. The legs are circular in cross section and 'o'f a diameter corresponding to the posts 5, and about the legs are mounted collars l@ which serve as Stops to limit downward "movement of 'sleeves il f5; 'which are of such length that when they 'are shifted upwardly to a raised position they will enclose the hinge ears and positions of the posts and the legs and very effectively prevent swinging movement of the legs from the extended position shown in Figure 2 to the folded position shown in Figure 3. Bayonette slots I2 lead from upper ends of the sleeves to accommodate pins I3, carried by and projecting radially from the posts and when these pins are disposed at lower ends of the slots and the sleeves turned to dispose the pins in the side extensions at their lower ends, the sleeves will be held in the raised position and the legs prevented from moving towards the folded position. A band ifi which is knurled so that it may be firmly gripped is formed about each sleeve so that the sleeves may be easily turned to an adjusted position and also readily slid along the legs to a raised position in which they hold the legs extended, as shown in Figure 5, or to a lowered position in which they rest against the collars I and allow the legs to be swung t0 a folded position.

The frame I is open and while it has been shown square it will be understood that it may be other shapes. of the table from inner side edges of the side bars of the top and upon the anges rests a top panel I which may be formed of plastic, wood or other suitable material and decorated to provide an attractive top for the table. This panel may also be marked to provide a checker board, or other game board, and have different game boards or decorations upon its opposite faces. The thickness of the panel is such that when it is set in place upon the flanges its upper surface will be flush with the frame I, and in order to prevent accidental displacement of the panel there have been provided latches i6, which are carried by the side walls 2 of the flanges of ledges 2 and grip the marginal edges of the panel. Since the panel is removable a game board upon either of its faces may be disposed upwards in position for use or a desired ornamented surface disposed upwardly. It will also be understood that extra panels may be provided and selectively used so that the ornamental appearance of a table may be changed when so desired.

In Figures 8 through ll there has been shown a table having a frame and legs of the same construction shown in Figures l through 7 and similar parts are indicated by the same reference numbers. This table has an auxiliary top I? consisting of companion sections i8, which may be formed of sheet metal, or other suitable material, and cooperate with each other to form a table top which is circular when viewed in top plan and of appreciably greater dimensions than the main table top. By using this auxiliary table top a larger number of persons may sit about the table when playing cards or when a meal or refreshments are being served. Slabs or panels I9 which take the place of the panel I5 are mounted against under faces of the top sections -I8, and are of such dimensions that when the panel I5 is removed and the auxiliary top ap- .i

plied the panels will rest upon the ledges 2 and be frictionally gripped by the latches, The inn ner side edges of the top sections I8, which extend diametrically of the top Il are connected with each other by a hinge 2B, so that when the auxiliary top is not in use its sections may be folded closely7 against each other and set upright against a wall where it will be out of the way and, at the same time, conveniently accessible when needed. A skirt 2| extends downwardly rIhe flanges 2 project inwardly along the outer arcuate marginal edge of each top Section I8 and along this marginal portion each top section is stamped to form a plurality of sunken pockets 22, having short outer walls 23, bordered by outstanding lips or flanges 24. Drinking glasses, chips, or the like may be placed in the pockets 22 and since the pockets are quite deep the upper portions of glasses will only protrude -a slight distance above the auxiliary table top and will not be liable to be knocked over by persons sitting about the table.

Another modified form of table is illustrated in Figures 12 through 15. In this embodiment of the invention, the table top 25 may be formed of plastic, sheet metal, or other suitable material, and about its margin is formed a short depending flange or skirt 26. Posts 21 having blocks or heads 28 at their upper ends are mounted vertically under corner portions of the table top and to these ears are pivoted ears 30 at upper ends of legs 3l for the table, and thus mount the legs for swinging movement from a folded position to an extended position for use. It should be noted that posts and the companion legs each has a single ear and that these ears are connected by bolts 32 which have their nuts tightened suiiciently to prevent the legs from having too free swinging movement. Collars 33 are carri-ed by the legs to limit downward swinging movement of sleeves 34 and the sleeves are formed with bayonette slots 35 into which ends of the bolts fit to hold the sleeves in a raised position in which they cover the joints between the posts and the legs and prevent movement of the legs towards a folded position after they have been moved to the depending vertical position for use.

The table illustrated in Figures 16 and 17 has a top 36 in the form of an open rectangular frame having a depending flange or skirt 31 about its margins and carrying a panel 38 which :dange or sunken lip 39 of the open frame of the top. A drawer 46 is mounted under the table top and slidabiy supported by guides il having their inner ends secured to a cross bar d2. The posts 43 to which the legs 44 are pivotally connected are similar to those shown in Figures 12 through 15 except that they are longer and sleeves 45 are employed to prevent accidental movement of the legs towards a folded position. Pins 46 are employed to limit downward movement of the sleeves instead of collars and while the legs 44 are connected by cross bars 4l, it will be understood that the cross bars may be omitted if so desired.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 18, the table has a top wherein a removable panel 48 is removably tted into a frame 49 and rests upon projecting portions of an auxiliary frame or strips 5I) mounted under and projecting from inner marginal edges of the frame 49. Posts 5I extend downwardly at corners of the table and to these posts are pivotally connected legs 52 carrying sleeves 53 which are limited in their downward movement by pins 54 and are formed with bayonette slots 55 to receive pins 5B so that the sleeves may be held in a raised position and cover the joints between the legs and the posts so that the legs will be releasably held in the depending position for use.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

A table comprising a rectangular frame having an opening therethrough, said frame having side strips meeting at corners of the frame and having depending portions along their outer side edges constituting a deep apron for the frame, said strips having short depending iianges along their inner side edges and horizontal lips extending from lower edges of the anges constituting a ledge about the inner margin of the frame spaced downwardly a short distance from the upper surface of the frame, blocks in corner portions of the frame mounted against under faces of the side strips in bridging relation to the meeting ends of the side strips abutting engagement with the apron and the flange and serving to brace connected ends of the side strips and also serving as members to which legs may be attached, and a top overlying said frame and having a downwardly extending skirt about its periphery, said top carrying a depending panel fitting snugly in the opening of the frame with its marginal portions removably resting upon said ledges and in abutting engagement with the flanges of the strips.

LEWIS M. GREENWAY.

REFERENCES CITED Number 6 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Isaacs Nov. 22, 1898 Holter Oct. 10, 1916 Bartlett July 31, 1917 Hueter Jan. 10, 1928 McGilvery Feb. 19, 1929 Bellows May 27, 1930 OConnor June 9, 1931 Crichton Apr. 25, 1933 OConnor Nov. 7, 1933 Landaw Mar. 6, 1934 Benchoi June 5, 1934 Stern July 24, 1934 Shannon Oct. 30, 1934 Matteson Apr. 26, 1938 Hawpe Feb. 4, 1941 Greitzer Dec. 22, 1942 Tave Aug. 15, 1944 Merkle Nov. 11, 1947 

